Soccer-Eight players leave England camp ahead of Japan friendly


Soccer Football - International Friendly - England v Uruguay - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - March 27, 2026 England's Dominic Calvert-Lewin after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

LONDON, March 28 (Reuters) - ⁠England boss Thomas Tuchel will have no ⁠choice but to ring the changes ahead ‌of Tuesday's friendly with Japan at Wembley Stadium after eight players left the camp on Saturday with a variety ​of health issues and injury ⁠concerns.

Having drawn 1-1 with ⁠Uruguay in a friendly on Friday, the FA ⁠announced ‌the departures on Saturday after several players picked up knocks and injuries, causing ⁠changes to the 35-man squad selected by ​Tuchel for ‌the current international break.

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, Fikayo ⁠Tomori and ​Dominic Calvert-Lewin are among the departures, with defender John Stones returning to Manchester City after picking ⁠up an injury prior to Friday's ​game, while Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) and Noni Madueke (Arsenal) were both injured in the friendly.

Madueke's Arsenal teammates ⁠Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have also returned to the North London club.

FIFA has expanded the squad size at World Cup in the U.S., ​Mexico and Canada this year ⁠to 26 players. England take on Croatia, Ghana ​and Panama in Group L, ‌kicking off against the ​Croatians in Arlington, Texas on June 17.

(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Ken Ferris)

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